Parornix betulae

Wingspan 9 to10 mm. It cannot be separated from other Parornix species without dissection.

Adult Leafmine (refer leafmine records for confirmation before recording)

Leafmine occurs on Birch. https://bladmineerders.nl/parasites/animalia/arthropoda/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/gracillarioidea/gracillariidae/gracillariinae/parornix/parornix-betulae/

Heaths and open woodland.

The adults fly in May and August.

The larvae of this species initially create gallery mines in the lower epidermis of birch leaves, leading to a Phyllonorycter-type mine, but discoloured brown. The larvae later feed within downward folds, usually at the tip of the leaf, pupating in this site or on the ground. The mines can be found in June and again in September to October and are commonest on birch seedlings.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation's Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

It appears to be uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland, where there are few records. L&R Moth Group status = D (rare or rarely recorded).